You guide to 14th street and below

4th of July Activities Around NYC

If you’re lucky enough to find yourself in SoHo, or New York in general, on the Fourth of July, there are thousands of activities that you can enjoy. These include boat rides that will allow you to enjoy the Macy’s firework show, trips to the Statue of Liberty and more. Many important locations are actually open on the Fourth, which may surprise some people. You can enjoy a visit to: the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, CitySights NYC Bus Tours, Times Square, Central Park, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Guggenheim Museum, Museum of Modern Art and more.

As we prepare to have fun today, it’s important to also reflect on our founding fathers and on why we celebrate this great day. America declared its independence from Great Britain on July 4th, 1776. It’s pretty amazing to think about our thirteen colonies going up against a giant like England and declaring ourselves independent. The authors, including primary author Thomas Jefferson, spent a few days refining the language. John Adams actually wrote to his wife on July 3 “The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.”

He may have been off by a few days, but the point remains the same. Certainly, their signatures on the Declaration of Independence are extremely valuable. Shapell Manuscript Foundation actually has an authentic and very rare calling card in its collection that says “Mr. Jefferson.” He often insisted on being called “Mr. Jefferson” rather than “Mr. President.” Interestingly enough, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration who were later presidents, both died on July 4, 1826.

Jefferson’s signature at the Shapell Manuscript Foundation

Hope it’s a wonderful day for everyone celebrating the Fourth of July in the great city of New York.